Decision in witness tampering investigation coming April 23

NEWSNOTES

Whether charges will be filed in a criminal investigation involving three Aberdeen residents who used to work with abuse and neglect cases in the legal system will be known later this month.

Mike Moore, Beadle County state's attorney, said there will be a decision in the case on April 23.

Brandon Taliaferro, Shirley Schwab and Fran Sippel have been investigated, reportedly for witness tampering in a state Department of Social Services abuse and neglect case. Moore is handling the case because of conflicts of interest with the Brown County state's attorney's office.

The investigation started in November.

Taliaferro was fired in September after working for three years as deputy state's attorney in the Brown County office. Schwab has been a court advocate for juveniles and families within the legal system. Sippel is a psychologist.